Sports

UConn Women Rout South Carolina, Will be New No. 1

Published

11 years ago

February 10, 2015

South Carolina’s Khadijah Sessions looks to pass as Connecticut’s Moriah Jefferson, left, defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

DOUG FEINBERG, AP Basketball Writer

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Geno Auriemma and his UConn Huskies will have to wait a week before they officially move back into the No. 1 spot in the poll.

They left no doubt who the best team in the country was Monday night, turning the showdown with top-ranked South Carolina into an 87-52 rout.

Auriemma didn’t want to put too much emphasis on the one win.

“I think this was one night, one game in February,” he said. “They are going to be playing deep into the NCAA tournament. I told Dawn (Staley), I hope we play them in Tampa. That would be pretty special.”

His players, though, thought the game made a statement. With the conference not providing much of a challenge as UConn has won by an average of nearly 50 points a game, this was a final chance to be tested by a top opponent before the NCAA tournament.

“I felt like our team had something to prove to ourselves more than anything,” said Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who led the Huskies with 23 points. “Despite all the teams we’ve been playing, people were worried that we didn’t have competition. We showed that we could stand up to the occasion.”

Stewart said that the win over the Gamecocks “speaks for itself.”

Despite suffering the loss, Staley wasn’t discouraged.

“This is absolutely part of our journey,” the South Carolina coach said. “This isn’t a destination game for us. The only way this works for us is if we learn from it and use it.”

Her players echoed their coach’s sentiment.

“We’re not stunned. This is no way, shape or form the defining point in our season,” said Aleighsa Welch, who led the Gamecocks with 17 points and 11 rebounds. “We have to evaluate the film, ourselves. Learn from it and move on.”

The Huskies still have to beat Tulane on Saturday, before they move back into the top spot. UConn may have one more chance to play a ranked opponent this season as South Florida entered the Top 25 for the first time this season Monday at No. 25.

“Most people don’t understand how hard it is to get that national recognition,” USF coach Jose Fernandez said. “We’ve definitely done some very good things here at USF.”

Fernandez and his team were flying when the poll was released, but were excited when they landed in Dallas and heard the good news.

“It’s definitely good, but we’ve got to stay grounded,” he said. “It’s not like we didn’t already have an ‘X’ on our back in our league. This will be an added motivator for everyone we play down the road.”

The Bulls (19-4) will play their first game as a ranked team Tuesday at SMU.

Some notes from this week’s poll:

UNBEATEN: Princeton (21-0) is now the only undefeated team left in women’s basketball. The Tigers swept Cornell and Columbia this week, winning by an average of 33 points. Princeton plays at Brown on Friday and visits Yale on Saturday in a matchup of the top two teams in the Ivy League.

TIMBER: Stanford fell to 19th, the Cardinal’s worst ranking since being left out of the final poll of the 2000-01 season. They lost back-to-back conference games for the first time since getting swept on a Los Angeles trip in January 2008 and now have three league losses for the first time since 2005-06.

UPCOMING MATCHUPS: There are a bunch of other good games this week. Maryland hosts No. 18 Rutgers on Tuesday in a Big Ten matchup. The Terrapins haven’t lost in their new conference yet. Baylor puts its 21-game winning streak on the line when Oklahoma visits Wednesday. Thursday has a few key conference matchups with Florida State visiting No. 17 North Carolina. Kentucky hosts 13th-ranked Mississippi State. The Wildcats then visit Tennessee on Sunday. First place in the Pac-12 will be on the line Friday night when Arizona State visits Oregon State. The Beavers have only one conference loss, while the Sun Devils have two.

___

Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.